Robertson Screws

[LTC8K6]

Yeah, no Robertson drive screws here, but square drive screws are easily found and often used.

 

[BoomerD]

Yeah, no Robertson drive screws here, but square drive screws are easily found and often used.

Square drive screws ARE Robertson screws...

 

[FallenHero]

A good drill probably would've worked, too. Yeah, you would've had to resist torquing, but the screws will generally go in faster and you won't have to listen to constant BBBLLAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTT!!!! (it amazes me how my cordless impacts are louder than my 1/2" pneumatic impact)

But more importantly, hex/torx/square (square>torx>hex IMO) would work a heck of a lot better for doing a deck. Treated lumber and all (plus you'd be doing what? screwing 2x4's to a 4x4 or better?). THEN you'd need that impact.

Yeah, I had a bunch of long screws I had already bought for other things that needed to be used. In hindsight, square would have been alot easier as I pulled back slightly on one screw without stopping the impact and instantly stripped the screw.

And agreed on the noise. Never would have thought it would be that loud until you really use it.

 

[phucheneh]

Square drive screws ARE Robertson screws...

We're just saying that no one calls them that. That's some made-up Soviet Canuckistan term.

PSA: flathead is now Hitler head. Goddamn Hitler head screws can fuck themselves.

 

[LTC8K6]

Square drive screws ARE Robertson screws...

Roebertson screws are a slight modification of Allan Cummings square drive system...from 1875...

 

[Eos]

I've never heard of a robertson head screw in my life. We have plenty of square drive stuff, though.

I'm gonna start calling torx 'McBoogerheimerschnauzer head'



Phillips is designed to cam out. Everything else...isn't. That's a pretty fair difference.

But phillips works fine for most applications where you would use a 'screw' and not a 'bolt' (Random FYI: Europeans don't have words for 'bolt' apparently. BMW, Volvo, and others call everything a 'screw'). Other than driving into solid wood without a pilot.

Machine screw and wood screw.

 

[phucheneh]

Bah. 'Machine screw' is not 'hex bolt.'

In American vernacular, screws are coarse and pointy (...what she said).

 

[Humpy]

Phillips is designed to cam out. Everything else...isn't. That's a pretty fair difference.

That's what I like about them. When running in deck screws with corded drills you can easily pull the bit out just when the screw was set without waiting for the drill to stop. A square drive wants to stick in the screw a little more. By "pushing" the screw in I never had problems with stripping philips screw heads, the bit or screw would usually break first.

With cordless impacts and how they stop as soon as you let off the trigger none of that matters anymore, though I still like how the philips bit quickly releases from the screw. Plus I love how you can use the impacts all day for weeks without any stress on the wrists. I'll take that over the noise.

 

[LTC8K6]

Pozidriv screws are Phillips screws for use with drill/drivers. Phillips screws should not really be used with drill/drivers with a lot of torque.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_screw_drives#Pozidriv

 

[coldmeat]

I find myself in positions all day where I just can't hold a screw as I drive it, so robertsons are a must. A lot of my job would be impossible/a lot harder without it.

 

[Red Squirrel]

It's fun to magnetize screw drivers, makes it easier to hold the screw. Actually I've never thought of it till now, but it could be useful to do it to drill bits too.

 

[Exterous]

Uh, they sell those at every big box hardware store in the US?

I think it depends on the area. I love them but generally have to order anything other than 2.5" online as thats the only size that the big box stores near me stock with any regularity.

I have noticed that the ones I bought online (either Rockler or McFeely's) were cheaper and easier to drive than the ones I got from HD or Lowes.

By "pushing" the screw in I never had problems with stripping philips screw heads, the bit or screw would usually break first.

I've encountered a lot of really cheap philips head screws that deform if you look at them wrong but these are often the 'included' screws in a package.

 

[Mixolydian]

I see those heads all the time. :hmm:

 

[BUTCH1]

Anything but an old flat head, once phillips came around I wonder why anyone would want to use a flat head..

 

[Murloc]

never seen one like that. I'm not into construction though, so the only screws I've ever seen were in computer cases.

 

[smullet]

The Robertson are not common where I live. I don't see them at Lowes or HD. I hate Philips, can't torque it before it strips.

 

[Greenman]

The Robertson are not common where I live. I don't see them at Lowes or HD. I hate Philips, can't torque it before it strips.

You need an impact driver. I will never attempt to drive a screw with any other type of screw gun.

 

[natto fire]

You need an impact driver. I will never attempt to drive a screw with any other type of screw gun.

I agree an impact helps, but you still have to have some technique too, especially if you are driving a long screw or into hard/knotted wood. As far as going into metal, the only phillips self-tappers I use in my work are the short panheads for light duty stuff to metal studs. I prefer 5/16" hex for anything going into structural steel or attaching j-boxes/heavier duty stuff.

 

[shortylickens]

I like robertson, allen and torx.

Anything else strips or slides out or just sucks.

Oh yeah if you are removing phillips always use an impact driver.
Replace the screw with something better.

 

[silverpig]

Because you only have enough GOOD screws to assemble one? :whiste:

No, cause our tank is put together with Robertson screws and the US tanks are put together with Phillips. When they go over a mine field, the US tanks fall apart, but the Canadian tank stays together because of Robertson power.

 

[shortylickens]

No, cause our tank is put together with Robertson screws and the US tanks are put together with Phillips. When they go over a mine field, the US tanks fall apart, but the Canadian tank stays together because of Robertson power.

 

[CZroe]

Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS) FTW. They look just like Phillips, but you need drywall or JIS bits to remove them without damage.

 

[KlokWyze]

I always just buy what I know, but I've seen these at every single hardware store. I'll try these out next time I need some screws for a project. I've got a tackle box of philips screws....

 

[Ticky]

Why can't everything just be hex...

 

[shortylickens]

Why can't everything just be hex...

Theory is the tool companies need an excuse to sell more screwdrivers.

Think about it, when was the last time you actually broke anything? I snapped about half of a flathead once many years ago. It was fine. I just used it as a precision driver.
And I strip philips screws way more often than philips drivers.